Ableist Ideologies Stifle Neurodiversity and Hinder Inclusive Education

Manalili, M. (2021). Ableist Ideologies Stifle Neurodiversity and Hinder Inclusive Education. Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.9707/2833-1508.1072

Publication date: 1 Dec 2021 Added to AutiHub: 6 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
1
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 1 (100.0%)

Abstract

This paper makes the case that ableist ideologies hinder trends towards inclusion on a broader global scale and beyond Anglo-American standpoints, as evidenced by key literature and legislations on inclusive education. I also discuss the issues, challenges, and dilemmas generated by these ableist ideologies in my professional context as an autistic speech-language therapist from the Philippines. I conclude with my reflection on how practitioners can help change the trajectory towards emancipatory inclusive practices that are informed by the neurodiversity paradigm. To respect the preference of the communities and the intersection of identities I represent, this paper uses inclusive identity-first language (American Psychological Association, 2019; Bottema-Beutel et al., 2020; The Alliance for Inclusive Education, 2021) and does not conform to divisive or Anglo-American dichotomies (e.g., d/Deaf distinction; Kusters et al., 2017; Pudans-Smith et al., 2019) when writing about pupils or learners who are traditionally identified by the education sector as needing “special education”.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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Bibliography inclusion overview

These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
24
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
7 / 24 (29.2%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
8 / 51 (15.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 8 / 22 (36.4%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 6 / 49 (12.2%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
22 / 51 (43.1%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 20 / 49 (40.8%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
14 / 22 (63.6%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 14 / 51 (27.5%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 14 / 20 (70.0%).
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